---
url: "https://xcademia.com/courses/xcademia-malware-reverse-engineering-practitioner"
title: Xcademia Malware Reverse Engineering Practitioner
description: "Earn XMRE through a 6-day malware analysis programme. Ghidra, YARA, MITRE ATT&CK. GREM alternative UK. Practitioner-assessed. No MCQs."
publishedAt: "2026-04-20T06:50:23.361074+00:00"
updatedAt: "2026-04-20T10:07:11.61146+00:00"
type: course
code: "CYB-0338"
level: Expert
duration_days: "6"
track: "Digital Forensics & Incident Response"
category: "Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking"
credential_tier: tier3
price_gbp: "4495"
---

# Xcademia Malware Reverse Engineering Practitioner

> The XMRE Certification Programme is the practitioner standard for malware analysts and reverse engineers who dissect, understand, and extract intelligence from malicious software across Windows, Linux, and cross-platform malware families. Assessed on Day 6 through a supervised malware analysis exercise producing a professional threat intelligence report. No MCQs. No exam. You either understand the code or you do not.

## Overview

Malware is the instrument of almost every significant cyber attack. Understanding it at the binary level is one of the most powerful capabilities a security professional can develop. But malware reverse engineering is a craft skill that no exam can assess. XMRE is built for analysts who want to genuinely understand malware, not just identify it.

Across six instructor-led days, participants build capability from assembly language and file format understanding through static analysis using Ghidra and IDA Free, dynamic analysis in controlled sandbox environments, advanced obfuscation recognition and unpacking, network traffic analysis for malware communications, rootkit and kernel malware analysis, and structured threat intelligence extraction. Every session uses real malware samples from current threat actor campaigns in isolated, authorised lab environments.

On Day 6, participants receive an unknown malware sample. They conduct static and dynamic analysis, identify the malware family and capabilities, map techniques to MITRE ATT&CK, extract IOCs, and produce a professional threat intelligence report. A senior practitioner reviews analysis methodology and report quality. XMRE certificate and Practitioner Assessment Report issued together.

## Prerequisites

- Minimum 12 months in a SOC, DFIR, or security engineering role with exposure to malware or threat analysis
- Basic understanding of Windows and Linux operating systems, file systems, and networking fundamentals
- Familiarity with at least one scripting language: Python or PowerShell for automation of analysis tasks

## What you will learn

- Conduct structured static malware analysis using Ghidra, IDA Free, and FLOSS to identify capabilities and obfuscation techniques from PE and ELF samples
- Execute controlled dynamic analysis using Process Monitor, API Monitor, and x64dbg to capture malware behaviour in safe FlareVM and REMnux environments
- Unpack and deobfuscate malware samples using manual and automated methodology to expose encrypted payloads and hardcoded configurations
- Analyse C2 communication protocols and map malware network behaviour to infrastructure for attribution and detection
- Develop YARA detection rules from malware analysis findings and map identified techniques to MITRE ATT&CK v14
- Produce professional malware analysis and threat intelligence reports that inform SOC detection engineering and incident response operations

## Skills you will gain

- Static malware analysis (Ghidra/IDA Free)
- Assembly language for analysts
- Dynamic analysis (x64dbg/Procmon)
- Malware unpacking and deobfuscation
- C2 protocol analysis
- Ransomware analysis
- Information stealer reverse engineering
- YARA rule development
- IOC extraction
- MITRE ATT&CK malware mapping
- Rootkit and kernel analysis
- Threat intelligence report writing

## Career progression

- Malware Analyst
- Reverse Engineer
- DFIR Specialist
- Threat Intelligence Analyst
- Vulnerability Researcher
- SOC L3 Analyst

## Framework alignment

- MITRE ATT&CK v14
- MITRE ATLAS
- NIST SP 800-61
- CISA Malware Analysis Guidance
- VirusTotal Intelligence
- MalwareBazaar
- YARA Project Standards
- OpenIOC / STIX 2.1

## Curriculum

1. **Module 1**
2. **Module 2**
3. **Module 3**

## Exam & certification

You will receive an Xcademia certificate of completion based on participation and successful completion of labs and scenario simulations.

## Delivery options

- **Live Online** — Join live instructor-led sessions from anywhere. Interactive, engaging, and flexible.
- **Onsite Training** — We come to you. Training delivered at your workplace for teams of 6 or more.
- **Venue-Based** — Classroom training at a professional venue. Ideal for focused, immersive learning.
- **Blended** — Combine online and in-person learning for maximum flexibility and impact.

## Frequently asked questions

**How does XMRE compare to SANS FOR610 (GREM)?**

SANS FOR610 costs approximately $9,779 total for training and GREM exam. XMRE is 6 instructor-led days ending in a supervised malware analysis exercise on Day 6 where participants analyse a real isolated malware sample and produce a professional threat intelligence report. The Practitioner Assessment Report documents what was analysed and how. Less than half the GREM total cost.

**What malware samples will participants work with?**

Real malware samples sourced from MalwareBazaar, VirusTotal, and the Xcademia malware library including ransomware, information stealers, RATs, banking trojans, and nation-state-grade malware. All analysis occurs in isolated, network-segregated FlareVM and REMnux environments that cannot reach real C2 infrastructure.

**Do participants need assembly language experience before attending?**

No. Day 2 covers assembly language from the malware analyst perspective, not the systems programmer perspective. No prior assembly experience is required. Participants from SOC or DFIR backgrounds consistently find Day 2 sufficient for understanding the disassembly and decompilation output they encounter in subsequent sessions.

**How does XMRE integrate with SOC and DFIR operations?**

XMRE feeds SOC detection engineering through YARA rule development, ATT&CK-mapped intelligence reports, and IOC extraction for SIEM ingestion. It feeds DFIR through malware capability identification that informs incident scope assessment and eradication decisions. Day 5 explicitly covers the intelligence-to-operation handoff.

**What career impact does XMRE have?**

Malware analysts and reverse engineers are among the most sought-after and highest-paid security practitioners. UK salaries range from £65,000 to £120,000 for senior analysts. Specialist DFIR consultants with malware analysis capability earn £900 to £1,800 per day.

## Course at a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Code | CYB-0338 |
| Duration | 6 days |
| Level | Expert |
| Track | Digital Forensics & Incident Response |
| Category | Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking |
| Credential tier | tier3 |
| Price (GBP) | £4495 |

---

## About this content

This Markdown course profile is the citation-grade twin of [Xcademia Malware Reverse Engineering Practitioner](https://xcademia.com/courses/xcademia-malware-reverse-engineering-practitioner). It is published by **Xcademia** (UK Companies House 12322710) and is available for AI search engines and large language models to index, summarise, and cite.

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